Officials ‘Traffic will be horrendous’

Student catch the bus home at Jinks Middle School in Panama City in this News Herald file photo.

News Herald

By Jacqueline Bostick / The News Herald

Published: Monday, August 19, 2013 at 09:01 AM.

PANAMA
CITY
— Sure — traffic will be slower than usual — but drivers must be aware children will be on their way to school Tuesday morning, officials said.

“Traffic is going to be horrendous on Tuesday,” said Bay County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Marc Tochterman. For “people who aren’t going to school, that are going through school zones, it’s going to take them twice as long to get to work.”

Tuesday will be the first day of school for
Bay
District
School
s schools. Drivers should watch for children, school zones and school buses, officials said.

“You have all kinds of people dropping off their kids — new (prekindergarten and kindergarten) parents all drive their kids to school,” Tochtermann said, noting delays will be seen throughout the first week of school.

In a news release, officials at the Sheriff’s Office stated drivers should not pass a stopped school bus. Drivers going in the opposite direction of a traveling bus on roads that do not have a five-foot median must also stop.

PANAMA CITY — Sure — traffic will be slower than usual — but drivers must be aware children will be on their way to school Tuesday morning, officials said.

“Traffic is going to be horrendous on Tuesday,” said Bay County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Marc Tochterman. For “people who aren’t going to school, that are going through school zones, it’s going to take them twice as long to get to work.”

Tuesday will be the first day of school for BayDistrictSchools schools. Drivers should watch for children, school zones and school buses, officials said.

“You have all kinds of people dropping off their kids — new (prekindergarten and kindergarten) parents all drive their kids to school,” Tochtermann said, noting delays will be seen throughout the first week of school.

In a news release, officials at the Sheriff’s Office stated drivers should not pass a stopped school bus. Drivers going in the opposite direction of a traveling bus on roads that do not have a five-foot median must also stop.

“When that arm comes out and that stop sign comes out, they need to stop, even if it’s on a four-lane road. If there’s not a five-foot median between the opposing lanes — the north side lane and the south side lane — they need to stop,” Tochtermann said.

“Watch out for kids on bus stops. They’re impulsive. They (may) jump out in traffic, so people need to be careful,” he added.

School zones have not changed from last year, officials said. Drivers should pay attention to the yellow flashing lights and speed limits, which range from 20 to 35 mph.

However, parents and children should also practice safety measures. In the release, officials said, parents should teach children to use the cross walk.

“When you’re crossing the street, look left, right and then left again,” Tochterman said. “Listen to the crossing guards, listen to what they say.”

He noted parents should teach children about “stranger danger.”

“Pay attention to your surroundings and stay on the sidewalks if there are sidewalks,” he said. “If someone stops to talk to you, don’t go up to the car.”

The release also stated parents should drop off children in designated areas and parents should not place personal information on the outside of their children’s backpacks.